Manifolding device.



M. C. STERN.

MANIFOLDING DEVICE.

APPucATloN man APR.9.1915.

mm1, patented NOV. 27, 1917.

titi

' s `amar rin.

MILTON C. STERN, 0F DAYTON, HIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE EGRYBEGSTF'R CMMMW?, Ult

IDYTON, OHIO, A CDEVQRTXGN 0F. QHIO. i

Leanser..

ASpeeizlcatlon et' Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2"?, twill..

Application filed A111119, 1915. Serial No. 20,106.

To all whom t may camera:

Be it known that I, MILTON C. STERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manifolding Devices, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to manifolding dev1ces and. more particularly 'to that type of manifolding devices known as auto` graphic registers.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple organization of parts whereby the and efisarrangewebs of paper .can be positivel ciently advanced without the ment and tearing thereof.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of an autographic register embodyin my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through a portion of the writing table and one of the feeding devices.

lln these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to an autographic register, the main features of construction of which are well known. llt will be understood, however, that this particular machine is chosen for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is applicable, either in its present form or in a modied form., to manifolding devices of various kinds.

As here illustrated, the manifolding device, or register, comprises a base 1 provided with upwardlyextending side walls 2 which carry at their upper edges a supporting plate 3 which, in the present type of .mach1ne, constitutes a writing table. Mounted beneath the writing table and between the side walls 2 is a plurality of webs of paper 4 which are referably in the form of rolls, as indicated at 5, and are here shown as mounted on shafts or rods 6 which are mounted at their opposite ends in the respective side walls or frame members 2.

ing circumferential ribs 10" which constitute guides to maintain the webs a ainst lateral relative displacement. 'lhe we sare carried forward over the supporting plate or table 3 in superimposed relation, and have inter leaved between them carbon sheets il which, preferably, extend lengthwise of the writing table and are here shown as mounted on rolls l2 arranged at the rear of the writing table between the positions occupied by the several webs as they pass about the guides 8 and 9. The strips of carbon paper are carried from the rolls l2 forward over the writing table between the respective webs of paper. The upper part of the manifoldin device as a. whole is covered by a top phate or cover 13 which is hinged at one end to the side members 2, as shown (titl titi Iat 14, and is held in its closed position by means of latches 15 arranged to enga e the 755 same at that end opposite its point o connection with the side members 2. rlhis top plate 13 is provided with an opening 16 through which is exposed a portion of the writing table. These manifolding devices are used very extensively for preparing bills of various kinds, and this opening lb is of such a size that it will expose the printed form on which the writing is to appear.`

To cause the several webs to be fed lengthwise of the writing table inunison, and to maintain the same against relative displace` ment during the feeding operation, which would result in the forms on several webs being thrown out of alinement, l have provided the machine with feeding devices arranged along the opposite sides of the enposed portion of the writing table and have ing parts adapted to simultaneously engage the several webs of paper and move the same lengthwise of the writing table. These feed-v ing devices comprise longitudinal movable members `which are here shown as endless belts such as sprocket chains 17. These endless feed members pass about rotatable supports, such as sprocket wheels l'and i9, which are arran ed at the respective ends of the writing ta le and which are mounted on shafts 20 and 21, journaled in the side members 2 of the frame. These endless feeding members are provided with projections, here shown as prongs or pins 22, which are adapted to extendthrough the several webs of paper and thus hold the same in ica fixed relative positions.v he here shown, tt@

these projections arey in theV form of tapered pins, and the several webs are provided I have here shown a pin on each alternate link of the sprocket chain 17. Means are preferably providedto prevent the sagging of the endless feeding members between the two rotary supports, as such sagging might withdraw the pins from their openings and either permit the webs to have relative movement or tear the webs in the feeding operation. In the, present instance, the writing table is provided in each of its lateral por` tions withlongitudinal slots 24 which are located just beyond' the edges ofthe exposed portion ofthe table, and 1n which ,slots the respective feeding members 17 travel. As here shown, the endless feeding members or chains 17 are arranged in the slot with their upper surfaces approximately flush with the writing table so that the pins will reject above thesur'face of the writin ta le but v the body of the'chain will not isplace the webs of paper with relation to the writin table. .To support the feeding members an prevent them from sagging I have provided the two slots or openings 24 `with trough.- shaped supports or ides, 24, which are secured to the under side of the writing table and form grooves in which the feeding lmembers travel and which support the feedf ning members throughout the length of the' [exposed portion of the writing table. 'It is l. also deslrablethat some means should be 'dit provided to hold thewebs of paper in engagement with the projections on the feed- 'ing device and prevent their accidental displacement. To this end', I have providedA the top plate 13 with depending portions or ribs extending along the op osite sides of the openings 16 and arran e to engage the uppermost web of paper a ong the rows of openings, therein', and thus press the several webs of paper downward onto the. writing table and prevent them from moving away from the feeding members and becoming' disengaged from the .projections 22 thereon. Prefera. ly, there is one -of these ribs on each side of each row of openings, and, in the present instance, I have secured to the :top plate '13, on each side of the opening ftiperein, a narrow plate or strip of metal 25 provided with a longitudinal groove 26,

which grooveA is preferably "V-shaped in cross section. This groove is arranged imupper ends of the projections 22 whiclrirpromediately above the position occupied bythe webs of paper, and is adapted to receive the ject beyond the upper web of paper. ose portions pf the plate oneither side of the groove bear upon the upper web ofl paper and thus hold the same below the upper ends of the projections.I In this manner the lgrooved' strips not only serve to hold the paper in proper operative relation with the projections on the feeding members, but also serve to guide the feeding members themselves and prevent their lateral displacement. Feeding movement may be imparted to the endless feeding members in any suitable manner, but, in the present instance, I have caused. the shaft 21, which carries the forward rotary supportin members 18, to

project beyond the side o the machine, as indicated at 27, and have provided the same with ahandle 28,y by means o fv which the supporting members 18 may be rotated and` forward or feeding movement-imparted to the endless feeding members. .The feeding device is automatically stopped at the end of each feeding operation by means of cooperating pins carried by the frame member 2 and the handle 28, respectively, the handle and the pin mounted thereon being movable axially in order to disengage this pin from the pin upon the frame member 2. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, a stopping device is provided to prevent the rearward movement of the feeding mechanism at the end of a complete operation. This device comprises a cam stop rotatable with the shaft 21 and a coperating pin 31, the pin El beinv slidably mounted in a bearing 32. It will e'noted that the carbon webs 11 are so arranged that they will not be fed forward along with the webs of paper. To this end the carbon webs are of less width than the webs of paper, being substantially equal in width to the opening 16 in the cover plate, which defines the exposed portion of ,the writing table. lConsequently, lthey are not engaged by the feeding devices and the frictional engagement between the webs of paper and thev carbon webs is notsufiicient to carry the carbon alongv with the paper.v if desired, a frictional resistance may be offered to the movement of lthe rolls 12 to insure their being held kagainst accidental unwinding movement. In order that the lo Wer paris of the feeding members or chains may not sag and come in contact with the webs of paper beneaththe writing table, I have provided a guard plate 29 which is supportcc` by the side -members 2 of the frame beneath the feeding members, and serves to support the lower stretchesy of the endless feeding members above .the webs-of paper, and to prevent the. webs of' paper from con gin engagement therewith.

The armagnac th@ dBVGe Will be roadmeneer ily understood from the foregoing description, and it -will benoted that the feeding from the machine.

devices engage the several webs of paper along both sides of the writing table in such amanner as to hold the same firmly against vdisplacement during the writing operation, and that these feeding devicesremain in engagement with the several webs of paper to hold the same against relative' displace ment duringlthe feeding movement. The mechanism 1s of an exceedingly simple construction, comprising a very few p'artsand having these parts of such a strong, durable character that they will not be readily broken or disarranged. Further, it will be noted, that there is no lfeeding mechanism interposed between the forward ends ofthe exposed portion of the writing table and the .forward ends of the cover plate 13, which forms the cutting edge along which the webs of paper are torn after they have'been fed Consequently, this forward portion of the cover plate comprises a narrow baronly and, therefore, it is necessary to allow only a narrow margin at the edge oi' the bill to enable it to extend past this bar.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be 11nderstood that this has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only, and that I do not desire to be limited tothe details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled inthe art.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I c aim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.1. In a device of the character described, a writing table to support a web of writing material, Web feeding devices mounted at each side of said table, said web-feeding devices having pins thereon extending` above said table adapted to engage the web of writing material, a cover positioned above and adjacent to said table, and means im movably fixed to said cover and located above said t-able and said pins to keep said web in engagement with said pins and against the writing table.

2. In a device of the character described, a. support -for a web of writing material, elongated web feeding devices comprising pins and extending lengthwise along each side of said support, said feeding devicesv being positioned with their pins only extending above the support for the web, and means mounted above the support and extending along each side thereof and over the pins for retaining theweb in engagement with the pins and against the support.

3. 'In a device of the character described, a support for a web of writing material, longitudinally extending slots in said support, elongated web feeding devices mount- 4ed in alinement with said slots and extend'- ing lengthwise thereof, said web feeding de-` web is retained 1n engagement with said- 1ns. p 4. In a device of the character described a .writing table to support a plurality of superimposed webs, elongated web-feeding devices mounted at each side of said table and extending lengthwise thereof, said webfeeding devices having pins thereon adapted to engage the webs ofpaper, a member positione above and adjacent to said ta'ble, and longitudinally extending means immovably attached to said member at each side thereof and adjacent said pins, said means having clearance spaces therein embracing said pins, whereby the webs of paper areI held in engagement therewith.

5. In va device of the character described, a table to support a plurality. of superimposed webs of paper, a cover plate extending over said table and having an opening to expose a portion of the uppermost web supported by said table, endless feeding members arranged for movement lengthwise of said table beneath said cover plate on the opposite sides of the opening therein, said endless feeding members each having a seriesI of pins to engage the several'fwebs of paper at a plurality of points along the sides of said opening in said cover plate, and means carried by said cover plate to retain said webs of paper in engagement with said feeding devices, and means to actuate said feeding devices.

l6. In a device of thecharacter described, a table to support a plurality of superimposed webs of paper, a cover plate extending over said table and having an opening te il.

expose a portion of the uppermost web supported by said table, endless feeding incinbers arranged for movement lengthwise et said table beneath said cover plate on the opposite sides of the opening therein, said endless feeding members each having a plurality of projections arranged at intervals along the opposite sides of the opening in said cover plate, and each adapted to extend through the several webs `of paper on said table, ribs depending'from said cover plate on the opposite sides of said opening to retain the several webs of paper against movementaway from said feeding members, and means for actuating said feeding members.

7. In a device of the character described, a table to su port a plurality of superimposed webs o paper, a cover plate extending over said table` and having an opening to expose a portion of the uppermost web snpported by said table, endless Afeeding members arranged for movement lengthwise of said-table beneath said cover plate on the opposite sides of the opening therein, said endless `feeding members each having a plurality of projections arranged at intervalsalong the opposite sides of theopening in said cover plate, and each adapted to extend through the several webs of aper on said table,said cover plate having epending portions arranged in opposite sides of said -opem'n land extending lengthwise thereof, each o said depending portions having a groove arranged to receive the upper ends ofthe projections on the respective feeding members, vand means for actuating said feedingdevices. n v

8. In a device of the character described, a main frame, a table carried by said frame, a plurality of rolls of paper supported by said frame beneath said table, and having the end portions of their webs arranged above said table in superimposed relation, endless feeding members arranged along the opposite sides of said table and having parts to engage the several webs of paper slmultaneouslyat a` luralit ofpoints to advance the same in xed re ative positions, supporting devices 'for said endless feeding members mounted on said main frame, be-` tween said table and saidv rolls of paper, and a guard plate interposed between said supporting devices and said rollsof paper to prevent the lower stretches of said endless feeding members from engaging the paper as it feeds from said rolls, and means to actuate said feeding members.

In testimony whereof, 'I aix Vmy signa;-V

ture in presence oftwo witnesses.

VMILTON C. STERN.

Witnesses:

J. B. CooLmGE, Basen: D. Moonn. 

